Congo Initiative

Ismael Lauriane is studying communications at UCBC and will be graduating in October. “UCBC led me to believe in the potential of women. Now I am capable and able to deal with life’s challenges. After my graduation, I plan to work as journalist and continue with my master studies.”

This October we will be celebrating 1,000 UCBC alumni! Join us in celebrating this momentous occasion by sponsoring the graduation and homecoming festivities. Donate here: https://congoinitiative-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1306410.

🌍✨ Happy World Humanitarian Day! ✨🌍

Today, we honor the incredible efforts of those dedicated to alleviating human suffering and promoting global well-being. In the spirit of this day, we want to highlight the impactful work being done for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in eastern Congo through Congo’s Initiative’s counseling and church renewal community engagement initiatives.

Bethesda Counseling Center provides healing music sessions, play therapy, trauma counseling, and hygiene kits to individuals and families affected by conflict and hardship. Church Renewal and Global Mission (CRGM) provides essential supplies and vocational training in sewing, carpentry, and baking for vulnerable youth and adults.

Bethesda and CRGM not only offer immediate relief but also empower communities towards long-term healing and resilience. They are a beacon of hope for those who have been forced from their homes due to ongoing conflict and violence. Join us in celebrating and supporting these tireless humanitarian efforts and in praying for lasting peace in our world.

UCBC’s momentous graduation is two months away! On October 5th, we will celebrate 1,000 UCBC alumni - each person a milestone, a life transformed through education. Read more about how we’re celebrating at https://congoinitiative.org/celebrating-1000-alumni/.

UCBC’s Student Leadership Development Team (SLDT) organized a health walk and games on Saturday. The SLDT motto is “serve to transform” and focuses on creating programs to empower student leaders at UCBC. The group organizes several fun events throughout the year to bring together students and staff members.

Earlier this month, Bethesda Counseling Center (BCC) organized a healing music session in Oicha for victims of war atrocities. At the end of the session, several people shared about their experiences with loss and suffering as a result of war. These sessions help participants heal from internal wounds through music and dancing, and offer hope for a brighter future. BCC offers several healing music sessions throughout the year. This particular event was so full, many people had to participate from outside the church building!

Happy Independence Day to all our Congolese colleagues and friends!

UCBC’s cultural fair was launched on Friday by the student committee through UCBC’s ministry of culture and art. The fair is an inter-faculty competition and will include three sessions spanning three weeks. The areas of competition include poetry, gospel music, storytelling, and drawing. A prize will be awarded to the winner at the end of the three sessions. Bonne chance to all the participants!

Graduation is a time of celebration. UCBC will be hosting a Graduation Celebratory Banquet to honor all the graduates and their families. Join us in honoring them by sponsoring a table at the banquet for $200.

Give here: https://congoinitiative-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1306410

Homecoming is a time-honored tradition here in the US. All UCBC alumni have been invited to attend UCBC’s first ever Homecoming this October! Will you help them celebrate by making a donation? Your $100 sponsorship provides food and lodging for one alumni traveling to Beni for Homecoming.

Give here: https://congoinitiative-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1306410

Graduation photos are a keepsake that can last a lifetime. Help us capture the moment at UCBC’s Graduation by sponsoring the photography, videography, and live stream. Your $75 sponsorship will help ensure that these special memories are captured.

Give here: https://congoinitiative-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1306410

A distinct feature of UCBC’s holistic education is service learning. During the Graduation and Homecoming festivities, alumni, students, and guests will participate in a community service day in Beni. It takes a community to raise a graduate so please help us give back to the community with a Graduation sponsorship. Your $50 sponsorship will purchase supplies for the community service project.

Give here: https://congoinitiative-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1306410

A graduation cap and gown are small items which signify a huge accomplishment! We applaud all those celebrating milestones this graduation season. Celebrate the Graduates in your life by making a donation to support the UCBC Graduation. Your $30 sponsorship will purchase a cap, gown, and tassel for one UCBC graduate.

Give here: https://congoinitiative-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1306410

June is the month for Grads and Dads here in the US. As we look forward to celebrating the 1,000th UCBC graduate walking across the stage, join us by making a donation in honor of a Grad or Dad in your life. Your $15 sponsorship will help fund a special reception for alumni!

Give here: https://congoinitiative-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1306410

A group of UCBC students is staying in Kenya this week visiting with study abroad students from Taylor University (USA). Yesterday, the students gathered for a workshop on ”Empowering Transformational Leaders” led in part by UCBC staff member, Kizito Mayao. Mayao received his Master's degree from Taylor and is now the Director of Student Affairs & Alumni Relations at UCBC. It is a joy for these students to connect and learn together. Tuko Pamoja!

We are just four months away from celebrating UCBC’s 1,000th graduate and first ever homecoming! Kizito Kakule Mayao, Graduation Events Coordinator, notes, “The upcoming graduation and homecoming events are not just a simple gathering but a celebration of one thousand milestones.” We invite you to join us in celebrating God’s faithfulness by sponsoring the graduation and homecoming events. Click here to become a sponsor: https://congoinitiative.org/celebrating-1000-alumni/

Sponsor Levels:
$15 - Alumni Networking Reception. Help fund a reception for alumni.

$30 - Graduation Regalia. Purchase a cap, gown, and stole for a graduate.

$50 - Service Day Supplies. Provide supplies for the service project.

$75 - Capturing the Moment. Help fund the videography, photography, and live streaming of graduation.

$100 - Coming Home to Homecoming. Provide food and lodging for alumni.

$200 - Celebratory Banquet Table. Sponsor a table at the graduation banquet.

In conjunction with Mending the Soul, an American trauma organization, UCBC is hosting a training conference this week on the “Ministry of Trauma Healing and Restoring Hope to the Community, Church, and Nation”. Mending the Soul’s global mission is to “bring Christ’s healing to the most traumatized populations in the world, who have the fewest resources.”
Fifty people are in attendance including pastors, students from Faculty of Theology and Psychological Sciences, and clinical psychologists from Butembo, Beni, Oicha, Mangina, and Bashu.

What does UCBC mean to you?

UCBC has helped Siviri discover his talents and develop skills. "The training I received from UCBC is influencing my whole being."

Congo Initiative equips the rising generation through transformative education for a flourishing Congo. Join us by making a gift so more students like Siviri can receive a life changing education. Give today at congoinitiative.org/give.

What does UCBC mean to you?

For Grâce, "UCBC is truly a training ground." Students are equipped to go out into the world and be changemakers.

Congo Initiative equips the rising generation through transformative education for a flourishing Congo. Join us by making a gift to our spring campaign so more students like Grâce can receive a life changing education. Give today at congoinitiative.org/give.

To all the moms and mother figures in our beloved community, we are holding you in prayer today. Happy Mother’s Day!

“Soft and strong,
With open arms and hearts,
We thank You for the array of
Women who are nurturing our world
In all their varied ways,
Cultivating peace
Through their mothering spirits.

We thank You for the women who raised us,
For the women who taught us
How to love boldly
And stand courageously.
We thank You for the women who showed us
How to care for others
And how to care for ourselves, too.”

Excerpts from “A Prayer for Mother’s Day” found in “To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers & Liturgies for Parents” by Kayla Craig

What does UCBC mean to you?

For Christian, UCBC is a place of transformation and new opportunities. "UCBC is a cradle of transformation for me. It is a true opportunity provided by the university."

Congo Initiative equips the rising generation through transformative education for a flourishing Congo. Join us by making a gift to our spring campaign so more students like Christian can receive a life changing education. Give today at congoinitiative.org/give.

What does UCBC mean to you?

For Irene, UCBC has been a place of academic growth and developemnt. "For me, UCBC is a university of quality, because since I've been here, it's been nothing but changes in my academic path. For sure, I'm learning a lot of things in different courses."

Congo Initiative equips the rising generation through transformative education for a flourishing Congo. Join us by making a gift to our spring campaign so more students like Irene can receive a life changing education. Give today at congoinitiative.org/give.

What does UCBC mean to you?

For Kasereka Muhasa Elifasi, “UCBC is a university institution with international standards. It is a gateway to the international world with its own approach to education. It trains all people for their well-being.”

Congo Initiative equips the rising generation through transformative education for a flourishing Congo. Join us by making a gift to our spring campaign so more students like Kasereka can receive a life changing education. Give today at congoinitiative.org/give.

Rebecca Masika Wasingya, UCBC professor and coordinator of the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, successfully defended her doctoral thesis entitled, "Electronic currency and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa" at Protestant University of Congo. She is the first woman to receive a PhD through the Advanced Studies Program and is only the second female staff member with the title. Dr. Wasingya is also a wife and mother, and pursued her degree while working full-time. She is an inspiration and a roll-model for the rising generation of Congolese women pursuing education and careers. Congratulations Dr. Wasingya on this momentous achievement!

Today is DRC’s National Education Day. According to DRC’s Minister of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education, this day was established “so that every Congolese parent, teacher, and student can engage in education, the channel through which we learn basic skills: to read, write and calculate in order to be useful to society and participate effectively in the development of our nation.”

Today we say “THANK YOU!” to Congo Initiative’s many educators who work tirelessly to teach, support, encourage, and guide the rising generation. We appreciate you!

UCBC has a new campus bus! Last week, students and staff gathered for a time of thanksgiving, prayer, and dedication for this new acquisition that will be used to transport students for academic and co-curricular activities.

UCBC also acquired many new books for several disciplines including Technology and Engineering Sciences, Communication, Psychology, Social and Political Sciences, Educational Sciences, Agribusiness, Economics and Management, Research, and Anthropology.

We are so grateful for these resources that support the education at UCBC and will also be used in UCBC’s service to the community of Beni.

Bethesda Counseling Center hosted a healing music therapy session last Friday for adults and kids. It was a joy-filled time with singing and dancing for all ages! These healing music events are hosted several times a year for people who have experienced loss, grief, and hardship.

He is risen. Happy Easter!

In collaboration with Impact Now, LLC, an organization supporting women leaders in small and mid-sized organizations, UCBC launched the NYOTA Leadership Program, specifically designed to empower women in leadership positions in the Beni area. Read more on our blog!

NYOTA Women's Leadership Program · Congo Initiative In collaboration with Impact Now: When Women Lead, an organization supporting women leaders in small and mid-sized organizations, UCBC launched the NYOTA Leadership Program, specifically designed to empower women in leadership positions in the Beni area. The NYOTA Leadership Program sprung from the....

UCBC held an Easter celebration on Friday. The community gathered for a time of singing, preaching, intercession, artistic performances, and the exchanging of gifts. At the end of the celebration, the new UCBC Student Committee was inaugurated, including president and vice president, Christian BASIKANIA and Bernadette SUHYAVO (pictured). Best wishes to these students in their new roles!

Today is World Water Day. According to UNICEF, only 52% of the population of DRC has access to an improved water source and 29% to improved sanitation facilities. We are soon launching a WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) project to bring reliable access to clean water and more permanent sanitation facilities to UCBC, La Charité Bilingue du Congo, and Académie Bilingue du Congo!

The project will include six drinking water stations and twelve restrooms across the three schools. It also includes the implementation of hygiene education - the importance of proper handwashing and the relationship between good hygiene practices for reducing the risk of cholera outbreaks and other waterborne diseases - as well as period kits and period hygiene education for girls.

This project will benefit our 950+ university and primary students plus over 200 households in the surrounding community.

If you want to learn more about this project, please leave a comment or email us at [email protected].